May is graduation season. Caps and gowns, proud families, big celebrations — and for a lot of young people in Chicago, a quiet, anxious question that nobody really talks about: now what? If you are holding a diploma and feeling unsure about what comes next, or if you walked away from school without one and you are wondering if there is still a clear path forward, this is for you. Because the answer might not be what you expect. And it definitely does not require taking on $30,000 in debt to...

Every spring, millions of young people face a version of the same question: What do I do after high school? For many, it feels like the answer has already been decided: go to a four-year college, take on debt, and figure out the rest later. But a growing number of young adults, especially in Chicago, are waking up to a smarter, more direct path: construction apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeship programs that let you earn a paycheck from day one while building skills that open doors to...

The construction industry is changing - and women are an increasingly important part of that shift. For decades, construction has been considered a male-dominated industry with limited access for women. Today, however, data shows that more women are entering construction careers, especially in skilled trades, project management, and workforce development roles. At a time when the industry faces a significant labor shortage, expanding opportunities for women in construction is not just about...